Genre: Children’s Fiction
Title:
OL’ MIDDLER SAVES THE DAY
Author:
Timothy A. Weeks Ol’ Middler the mullet is searching for his friend Goldie. He looks far and wide, hundreds of miles from his home in Cook Bayou, but his quest proves more difficult than he had expected. Little does he know that Goldie has gone on a journey of his own, one fraught with
danger and tragedy. But even more trouble is brewing in the Gulf, and Middler remembers the lesson he once learned: “Act fast when danger lurks, in order to prevail.” He knows that he must find Goldie quickly.
Young children will enjoy this
story as it illustrates the strength of friendship. No distance is too far for Middler to travel, no danger is too much, to stop him from searching for Goldie. They will be eager to see the result of his quest, wondering from page to page whether or not Goldie and Middler will be reunited.
But this story also encompasses a number of other topics. Overcoming adversity, selflessness, and helping others despite having your own problems are just a few. Toward the end we see what friendship can accomplish, and how positive motivation and support are important factors in overcoming loss and sadness.
Weeks uses a well-known current event as part of the catastrophic trouble which befalls Goldie and Silver. Though he never names his storm Katrina, its terrible effects and its destruction in New Orleans make it obvious. It seems an excellent inclusion to the story, as most children will be able to relate to such a recent incident, particularly children in the Gulf region where the story takes place.
A blend of photographs and painted images make up the illustrations for
Ol’ Middler Saves the Day, creating a visual world that is real while containing the fantasy aspects of a child’s imagination. Each character in the story has its own distinctive elements: Middler’s sea hat, Goldie’s glasses and gold tongue, and Silver’s pink lips and eyelashes. These features help distinguish between them and are quite useful for infusing a bit of personality into the characters. At the end of the book is an illustrated map, which follows each separate journey in the story and helps to better demonstrate just how far Middler goes to help his friend.
Timothy A. Weeks is originally from the Florida Pandhandle and has written a previous book in this series called
The Wise Mullet of Cook Bayou. Both books may be purchased at AtlasBooks.com or Amazon.com.
Recommended for young readers and those who love picture books.
Reviewer: C. Noël Rivera, Allbooks Review.
Title: Ol’ Middler Saves the Day
Author: Timothy A. Weeks
Publisher: Foolosophy Media
ISBN: 0-9779928-1-0
Pages: 48
Price: $12.99
March 2007